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Can Imps end hellish opening day history?
By Nathan Jackson
August 5 2004
The Imps kick off the season at newly promoted Shrewsbury Town and to be perfectly honest, I would be suprised to see anything less than a City win. However, to do this, the Imps will have to end a run of poor opening days which has seen us loss 6 of the last 10 curtain raisers.

INTRODUCION

Saturday will something that won't have happened for 87 days, the Imps have a league game but don't have form when it comes to first games of the season.

The Imps have, on paper, been given one of the easier opening months of any team which sees us play Shrewsbury, Southend, Rushden, Scunny, Notts County and Swansea. I realistically think that we can go undefeated in all these games and I see anything less than 14 points as a let down.

Just so you get a realistic look at our form on opening days, here is the list of the last 10 first day results in reverse chronological order (or for those of a less "swalled a dictionary" status) most recent first

Oxford United (home) - Lost 1-0

Kidderminster Harriers (away) - Drew 1-1

Halifax (home) - Lost 2-1

Hartlepool (home) - Lost 2-0

Rotherham (home) - WON 2-1

Bournemouth (away) - Lost 2-0

Chester (away) - Lost 2-0

Torquay (away) - Lost 2-1

Preson (home) - WON 2-1

Exeter (home) - WON 2-0

So out of a possible 30 points, we infact, got 10 which I think indicates our form when it comes to opening days. However, I believe that we have a better squad than any of those seasons so our luck could possibly change.

TEAM NEWS FOR THE IMPS

I would say we're ready for the challenge with only 3 potential first teamers injured in the form of Richardson, Green and McCombe. This will more than likely leave Keith using a 5-3-2 formation or giving a suprise debut to teenager Adam Kerley who is widely expected to get a decent run out this season.

The Imps are also expected to give debuts to summer signings Michael Blackwood at left back, Toner in midfielder and the re-debut of Dean West.

Expected City line-up (right to left)

Marriott

West   Morgan  Futcher   Weaver   Blackwood

Butcher    Toner     Gain

Fletcher    Yeo

SHREWSBURY TOWN

After winning the playoffs in the conference last season, Shrewsbury made an immediate return to the league although it is extremely unlikely they will be able to pull off a Doncaster and get promoted as champions.

Pre-season results haven't raised the confidence in Shrewsbury which was already low because of their apparantly poor performances in the playoffs which makes you wonder just how poor the teams they beat were.

Their obvious threats come from a very formidable front line of veteran, Duane Darby and a name familiar to all at this level, Luke Rodgers.

The last time Shrewsbury were in this division, they appeared to be going quite well but then came the FA Cup game against Everton which changed everything, they beat the Premiership team but after that, they were a totally different team losing 6-0 at Boston and 5-0 at Cambridge to name a few of their poor results.

MOST RECENT RESULTS AGAINST SHREWSBURY

2002/3

Lincoln City 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 - League

Lincoln City 1 Shrewsbury Town 2 - LDV Vans Trophy 2nd Round - AET

Shrewsbury Town 1 Lincoln City 2 - League

2001/2

Lincoln City 1 Shrewsbury Town 2 - League

Shrewsbury Town 1 Lincoln City 1 - League

PREDICTIONS

All regulars to this site know that I get these wrong quite regulary however, I feel that there is a very strong chance of City victory to totally counteract last season's dreadful start to the season which saw the Imps win only once in the opening month.

I'm going to plump for City winning 3-1.

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